‘I’m a grumpy republican so I had to think about it first’ - community worker awarded in New Year Honours list

‘I had to think about accepting it as it’s not really what I’m about!’
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A project worker who has spent the past 11 years running a Bristol community garden has been recognised in the New Year Honours List - but the self-confessed ‘grumpy republican’ admits she had to think about accepting it or not.

Lucy Mitchell, the community project worker at the Golden Hill Community Garden behind the prison in Horfield, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community.

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Started in 2011 with help from a £88k grant from the National Lottery local food fund, the wheelchair-accessible Golden Hill Community Garden has grown into a much needed sanctuary for locals with a pond, polytunnels and raised beds where volunteers grow vegetables.

The plot is around 2000 m2 - less than an acre - and it’s the size of around ten full-sized allotments. It was originally unused land that was too boggy for allotments but Lucy and her team added drainage for the garden.

In 2015, the project became a community-interest company and it now runs regular toddler groups, kids’ play schemes and after-school clubs.

The garden opens every Wednesday from 10am-4pm and welcomes anyone to get involved with growing, with drop-in sessions for volunteers.

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Lucy says she was ‘quite surprised’ to receive such an honour from the King, and she admits she had to think about accepting it. She also missed the original letter as she was ill at home when it arrived.

Lucy Mitchell of Golden Hill Community Garden in HorfieldLucy Mitchell of Golden Hill Community Garden in Horfield
Lucy Mitchell of Golden Hill Community Garden in Horfield

“I was off work with Covid so I missed the letter and I got phoned up by the Cabinet Office two weeks before Christmas asking me if I knew about it and what did I want to do about it.

“I was so poorly in bed that the phone call was a bit of a blur and I hadn’t even read the letter. All of our post goes to our treasurer so I hadn’t seen it!

“But I had to think about it before I accepted it as it’s not really what I’m about. I’m a grumpy republican to be honest!

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“It was quite flattering although it’s not what the garden is about, it’s a community project so it was strange they picked out one person. I think one of the volunteers nominated me but nobody’s confessed to it yet!”

Although sworn to secrecy, Lucy confesses some of her friends knew about the award and she says they were surprised she accepted.

“They were surprised but then I told them it comes with an actual medal so they realised why I did! I’m going to wear it all the time at the garden and I’m sure the volunteers are pleased.

“It’s a collective thing - we share our victories and triumphs so we’ll have it pinned up somewhere.”

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Lucy says the community garden is used by local residents for annual events including a spring fair, harvest fair and Christmas wreath making.

“It’s a community of people who look out for each other and have created a beautiful space. We have the same people making wreaths every year and for them that’s the start of their Christmas.

Volunteers at Golden Hill Community Garden in HorfieldVolunteers at Golden Hill Community Garden in Horfield
Volunteers at Golden Hill Community Garden in Horfield

“Over the past 11 years, we’ve woven into the lives of the people around us and everybody gets involved. We’ve also had so many kids come through us with after-school clubs and holiday clubs and everybody is welcome.”

Lucy says the pandemic was particularly tough for the project as it had to close due to restrictions, but as soon as they were lifted, volunteers returned to the garden, mostly to meet other people.

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“For a lot of people who don’t have gardens or who live on their own and trapped in a city, it was an amazing thing to come to the garden and have some space and quiet, just the sound of bees and dragonflies. The garden took on a different life during the pandemic.

“As we opened up more after lockdowns, we could have groups of six but we didn’t do any work because people were just so desperate to talk to each other. We just sat in a big space outdoors and gabbled at each other. It certainly saved my sanity!”

When the garden opens on Wednesdays, Lucy serves up a soup lunch for the volunteers using the vegetables they grow.

“We never know how many people will turn up so we make a big pot of soup and sometimes it can be 15 people. In the winter, having that soup is a real focal point for people helping out.”

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And the focus of growing vegetables has recently changed due to the cost of living crisis. They now grow additional vegetables for Bristol’s Family Food Action, which supports local families and children in food poverty.

Lucy says: “We’re now growing vegetables for a food bank, which we never did before the cost of living crisis. In the past, this wasn’t so much on our radar so we’ve shifted our focus on growing more produce which can go out to the food banks.”

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